Showing 1 - 10 of 22
Clutching at straws
Oped, Postbag, Published on 01/06/2024
» Re: "Thaksin to fight royal insult case: Lawyers raise doctored video concerns", (BP, May 30).
Getting soft power right
Life, Published on 08/01/2024
» After three months in office, the Srettha Thavisin government has raved on about populist policies in the guise of digital wallets and soft power projects that will create income to boost our declining economy. With optimism, we learned that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai party leader and head of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), has drafted a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost festivals and creative industries. It is welcoming news to hear this government is priortising art, music, literature, design, fashion, film, food, games, sports and festivals as essential sources for the creative economy. Where this enormous chunk of budget will come from, like digital wallets, remains to be seen.
Still in army uniform
Oped, Postbag, Published on 19/01/2023
» Re: "Prayut steps up as career politician", (BP, Jan 16).
Crisis of faith is reaching a crescendo
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 31/07/2021
» The harsh words by MC Chulcherm Yugala, a staunch royalist, against the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, denouncing its poor handling of the Covid-19 outbreak, have stunned political observers and supporters of the prime minister. Given his senior royal status, the prince's criticism has triggered wild speculation over a possible new prime minister endorsed by the palace.
Vaccine altruism?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 28/11/2020
» The National Vaccine Institute (NVI) will sign a 182-billion-baht contract with AstraZeneca for 26 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, sufficient for 13 million people (BP, Nov 27). This equates to 7,000 baht per jab.
Eyes wide open
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 08/05/2020
» The literature about modern Thai politics is not abundant, and by this I mean a narrative that grounds its characters in the double-whammy of coup d'etat and street protest that characterised the mid-2000s to mid-2010s. The period, plus a few years earlier when Thaksin Shinawatra rose to power, contains some of the most convulsive and era-defining moments that continue to shape the visible and invisible dimensions of Thai society in the present time, and it's astonishing that not more writers find it a rich wellspring of artistic expression (on the contrary, visual artists and theatre artists seem more responsive to the political currents of the same period).
As ever, money the root of many evils in 2018
News, King-oua Laohong, Published on 30/12/2018
» Former DSI chief Tarit Pengdith may have stolen the headlines this month after he received a one-year prison term for his role in the police station construction scandal. However, the team which he once headed handled a number of high-profile cases in 2018.
Political turmoil blamed for GDP losses
Business, Somruedi Banchongduang, Published on 28/08/2018
» Thailand's political uncertainty over the past 20 years took a toll on the country's economic growth, shaving off 0.4 percentage points per year on average and depressing growth below its potential, according to a joint survey by the Bank of Thailand's Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research's (Pier).
About Politics
News, Published on 25/11/2017
» Who will be in the race for next year's election? We look at the frontrunners v Critics attack new voting system claiming it is 'contradictory' v Pundits accuse regime of wheeling out welfare cards to boost popularity before poll
About politics
News, Published on 18/11/2017
» Prayut's 'fresh faces' question steeped in contradictions v Regime keeps watchful eye on Pheu Thai Party as it mulls lifting the political ban v Rajabhakti Park: Pride of the army or simply a den of graft?